Cycle-frame.



' Patented Mar. 27,1917.

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CYCLE-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 19171.,

Application filed April 18, 1916. Serial No. 92,012.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEsLIE WVILLIAM BLANGHARD, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, residing at 57 Longridge road, Earlscourt, London, S. W., in the county of Middlesex, England, engineer, have invented certain Improvements in or Relating to Cycle-Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cycle frame of the type in which the seat is supported by a tripod structure, the rear of the base of which occupies a position substantially advanced in relation to the axis of the rear wheel of the vehicle, in which type of cycle frame the steering head has been supported by three tubes, the latter having been based upon an intermediate triangulated structure, which also forms the base of the seat tripod. According to the present invention the steering head is supported by a tripod structure, two of the tubes of which are laterally spaced from each other and disposed in a common transverse plane.

The tripod structure last mentioned supporting the steering head may together with. the tripod supporting the seat be mounted upon an intermediate structure consisting of an engine or an intermediate structure or intermediate structures adapted to accommodate an engine in such a manner as to relieve it from the stresses experienced by the frame, or an intermediatestructure consisting of both the engine and a structure or structures adapted to relieve the engine from stresses experienced by the frame, and the rear part of such intermediate structure, which occurs at a position substantially advanced in relation to the axis of the rear wheel of the vehicle, may be coupled to the rear wheel spindle by stays or tubes extending rearwardly from the point of juncture of such intermediate member with the rear part of the seat tripod.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings, upon which Figure l is an elevation of one form of frame suitable for a motor cycle according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a Fig. 1.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention, two plates a a or frames are arran ed one on each side of thecycle frame, these plates or frames being, or being in effect, of triangulated formation or construction, and being connected together at points corresponding with the vertices of the triangle by transverse tubular lugs or members. In elevation, the duplex structure may comprise a base of length equal to nearly half the distance from the steering head to the rear wheel axle. This base may incline slightly upwardly from back to front. The second portion of the duplex structure extends rearwardly at an acute angle from the fore extremity of the base throughout a distance corresponding with about two thirds of the length of the base. The third portion of the triangulated structure connects the rear extremity of the two first described portions, the triangulated structure being of height or depth conveniently something less than half of its length. vVhile, however, the triangulated structure has in one convenient plan of the frame shown in embodiment been thus described, it may be varied in shape, position, and dimensions, while the plates or frames constituting the side portions of the duplex structure, instead of being of triangulated shape or form, may be of any other shape or form, or incorpo rated in or comprised of the engine itself to suit difiiering requirements.

The parts of the-frame according to the present invention, other than the said duplex structure, may be of standard form for use both when the duplex structure is employed, or when the engine is employed in lieu thereof. Thus the engine can be utilized as the connecting or coupling element itself in lieu of the duplex member, or such duplex member may be employed to relieve the engine, and the standardized frame may be supplied with the duplex member so that it may be used with the employment of such duplex member, or in a case in which such duplex member is dispensed with, and the engine employed in lieu thereof.

From the lug b occuring at the apex of the triangulated structure, two struts or tubes c c, extend forwardly and upwardly to the upper portion of the steering head (1. The lower portion of the steering head d is connected to the front lug c of the duplex structure by a single tie tube This single tube may rigidly join the front lug e of the duplex structure at a central point in the width thereof. The two struts or tubes 0 extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper part of the steering head d may at their lower extremities be furnished with lugs g 9, having perforated stay ends or flanges adapted to occupy positions at the extremities of the lug b at the apex of the duplex structure, these perforated stay ends or flanges being adapted to take positions between the lug b and the plates (1, a or frames of the duplex structure. The seat pillar h centrally and rigidly joins the lug b at the apex of the duplex structure and the upper extremity of the seat pillar is connected by two tubes 71 i which extend downwardly and at their lower extremities have lugs j j furnished with perforated stay ends or flanges adapted to occupy positions one at each end of the rear lug 7c of the duplex structure and between such ends and the plates at a or frames of the duplex structure.

Rear horizontal or substantially horizontal fork stays Z Z may be rigidly connected to the rear lug 7c of the duplex structure at points near to the extremities thereof, and two stays m m may be incorporated to connect the rear extremities of the horizontal or substantially horizontal, fork stays Z Z to the upper extremity of the seat pillar 71.

At its upper extremity the seat pillar it may carry a transverse lug n and the stays m extending to the rear wheel spindle may be furnished with perforated stay ends or flanges disposed one on each side of this lug. Outside of these stay ends or flanges, other stay ends or flanges may occur, these lastmentioned stay ends or flanges being provided upon the two tubes 11, i, which extend downwardly to the rear lug of the duplex structure.

Alternately since the stays Z, Z and m, m are not required to support the seat pillar lug end-this point being supported by the tripod structure it, i, i-the rear wheel may be supported by a spring device, such as described in my concurrent application, Serial Number 92,011.

Bolts or other connecting devices may be assembled in relation to the various transverse lugs or members to secure the frames or plates of the duplex structure, as also the perforated stay ends .or flanges.

In the foregoing description, it will be noted that the steering head and seat are supported upon tripod structures, 0, c, f, and

'h, i, 'i based'upon the duplex connectnig or coupling structure, and a high standard of lateral stability is thereby obtained, coupled with a high standard of stability as against the main bending stress to which the frame is subjected.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A cycle frame comprising in combination an intermediate structure, a tripod structure for supporting the steering head, said tripod structure being based upon said intermediate structure and having two of its tubes laterally spaced from each other and disposed in a common transverse plane, a second tripod structure for supporting the seat, said last-mentioned tripod structure being also based upon said intermediate structure, and provision for supporting the rear wheel.

2. A cycle frame comprising in combination an intermediate structure, a tripod structure for supporting the steering head, said tripod structure being based on the said intermediate structure and having two of its tubes laterally spaced from each other and disposed in a common transverse plane, a second tripod structure for supporting the seat, said last-mentioned tripod structure being also based upon said intermediate structure, and means for supporting the rear wheel, the rear of the base of said second tripod structure occupying a position substantially in advance of the axle of the rear wheel of the vehicle.

3. A frame for a motor cycle or the like comprising in combination an intermediate structure, a tripod structure for supporting the steering head, said tripod structure being based upon said intermediate structure and having two of its tubes laterally spaced from each other and disposed in a common transverse plane, a second tripod structure for supporting the seat, said last-mentioned tripod structure being also based upon said intermediate structure, and provision for supporting the rear wheel, said provision including two stays extending rearwardly from the lower extremities of the two rear stays of the rear tripod structure which supports the seat, and two stays extending downwardly and rearwardly from the top of said tripod structure for supporting the seat and joining the first mentioned pair of stays.

4. A frame for a motor cycle or the like, comprising in combination an intermediate structure, a tripod structure for supporting y the steering head, said tripod structure being based on the said intermediate structure and having two of its tubes laterally spaced from each other and disposed in a common transverse plane, a second tripod structure for supporting the seat, said lastmentioned tripod structure being also based upon said intermediate structure, and means for supporting the rear wheel, the rear of the base of said second tripod structure occupying a position substantially in advance of the axle of the rear Wheel of the vehicle, said means including a pair of stays extending rearwardly from the lower extremities of the two rear stays of the rear tripod structure which supports the seat, and two additional stays extending downwardly and rearwardly from the top of said tripod structure for supporting the seat,

said last mentioned pair of stays joining the 1 rear extremities of the first mentioned pair of stays.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

LESLIE WILLIAM BLANCHARD. Witnesses:

A. R. J. RAMsEY, H. C. W

ESTON.

topics of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

